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Industry approach to dealing with Debt Management Firms

22 November 2020

This industry common approach:

  • outlines a clear set of guidelines for when the banks may consider that a DMF, when representing a bank customer, is not acting in the customer’s interests and banks may approach a customer directly;
  • provides clarity and consistency in how member banks may deal with DMFs, recognising the importance of preserving a customer’s right to engage them, while trying to protect customers where firms may not be acting in their interest, and
  • describes an approach that is consistent with competition law obligations, the Code and other regulatory guidance such as the ASIC/ACCC Debt Collection Guideline (DCG)/RG 271 and the banks’ general responsibilities to their customers.

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